- Title: SOUTH KOREA: South Koreans hold anti-Japan rally
- Date: 26th April 2013
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (APRIL 26, 2013) (REUTERS) ANTI-JAPAN PROTESTERS CHANTING WHILE HOLDING UP PLACARD READING: "WE CONDEMN IMPROPER REMARKS BY JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, WHICH DENY INVASION HISTORY" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING PROTESTERS GATHERING IN FRONT OF JAPANESE EMBASSY IN SEOUL JAPANESE NATIONAL FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) ANTI-JAPAN PROTEST LEADER PARK CHANG-DAL SAYING: "Japanese Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe does not hesitate to make improper remarks which totally distort the aggressive war. We strongly urge the minister to reflect on all his behaviors and to stop divisive acts toward an international society." POLICE MORE OF PROTESTERS CHANTING SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YUN BYUNG-SE WALKING INTO CONFERENCE VENUE AND SHAKING HANDS WITH ATTENDEE ACADEMIC CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS ATTENDEES AND JOURNALISTS YUN WALKING TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YUN BYUNG-SE SAYING: "Recent anachronistic remarks by some Japanese leaders go against modern times. It is very deplorable. The remarks cast a chill over efforts of the countries in the region to build up a new future for the East Asian region. MORE OF ATTENDEES MORE OF ACADEMIC CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 11th May 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Korea, Republic of
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Business,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAB1LUZDKFJ9L3YJWLBJRFV48H5
- Story Text: South Korean activists rallied on Friday (April 26) to protest remarks attributed to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that South Korea says downplay Japan's 20th century occupation of Korea and China.
During a parliament session earlier in the week Abe suggested that Tokyo's colonization of Korea might be defined as something other than an "act of aggression"
Abe told a parliamentary meeting on Tuesday (April 23) the definition of aggression is vague academically and internationally, and depends on from which side one looks at the situation, Yonhap added.
About a hundred South Korean activists on Friday gathered in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul and chanted slogans against Abe.
"Japanese Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe does not hesitate to make improper remarks which totally distort the aggressive war. We strongly urge the minister to reflect on all his behaviors and to stop divisive acts toward an international society," said anti-Japan protest leader Park Chang-dal.
Earlier in the day, South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byun-se condemned 'anachronistic remarks' by Japanese leaders, saying they were "deplorable".
"Recent anachronistic remarks by some Japanese leaders go against modern times. It is very deplorable. The remarks cast a chill over efforts of the countries in the region to build up a new future for the East Asian region," said Yun.
South Korea summoned Tokyo's ambassador in Seoul on Thursday (April 25) to protest at Abe's defence of visits by senior officials and lawmakers to a shrine seen by Japan's neighbours as a symbol of wartime aggression.
The shrine honours Japan's war dead, as well as 14 leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal. It is seen by Koreans as a reminder of Japan's brutal colonial rule from 1910-1945.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Thursday that Tokyo did not want the Yasukuni issue to affect ties with its neighbours.
The recurring flare-ups in tensions between Japan, South Korea and China have been a source of concern for Washington, which is keen to secure cooperation from Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing in reining in reclusive North Korea. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
